{+}{+}{+}

   Snap.

   No one heard it, though the room went completely still and silent for just a moment. The air grew uneasily thick, the smell of sanitary products and medicine leaving an uncomfortable bitter feeling.

   Two families were processing the news until the weight of reality finally crushed them. Wails echoed off the walls, anyone within earshot feeling remorse.

   It's pretty ironic.

   The two families are inside a hospital...but their souls can't be healed by any sort of medicine or bandages. Not a million stitches could mend their broken and scared hearts.

   "No need to worry!" echoes of encouraging words from the past spoke, "I'll see you all on the other side!"

   The devastation of the loss is loud...but no one heard the thundering snap of a singular soul.

   He stood paralyzed, the only movement is his trembling body while watching his whole world crumble beneath his feet. The sounds of crying and sniffling around him are all drowned out as if he was underwater. The irises in his striking bluebell eyes shrunk. Many feelings, emotions and turmoil raced throughout his veins.

   Snap!

   Then, it all fell apart.

   His brain felt rewired and broken like a virus corrupted him. All the warnings and errors went unseen as anger took over. His sanity torn piece by piece as if it were merely paper and slipping through his fingers like sand.

   "Slade!"

   The voice sounded far away and muffled, unable to fully get through his ears. Someone grabbed a handful of his shirt, shaking him.

   "This is all your fault!" It yelled, furiously and voice cracking, "This is all your fault! You knew the consequences! N-Now...she-she's gone...forever."

   His vision blurred into a crimson color. New voices, different voices that weren't muffled and clear as day, whispering, "No, it's not your fault. It's someone else's fault."

   "Yes," he agreed, giving in to the idea, "but...who?"

   He already knew the answer.

{+}{+}{+}

   "Are you sure you know where we're going?" Tikki asked for the nth time.

   "Yes," Marinette simply replied, getting irritated by the repeated question and continued to look down at her feet. The two managed to board a train without much difficulty and heading towards the station closest to the prison.

   The bluenette is still having a hard accepting everything happening, never thinking in a million years she would be this reckless.

   Running off to Italy with her younger relative just to see their father, who is currently in jail for many past crimes. What really baffled Marinette the most, he was working as Hawkmoth's partner, Akuma.

   She assumes Sabine never thought the teen would look up "Slade Cheng" on the internet. A big mistake on her aunt's part but useful information. Of course, the internet doesn't have all the answers to her remaining questions and that's why Marinette is here.

   She needs to know the whole truth, no more lies.

   She hated lies to her very core. Look at where one big lie has brought her now, she's riding a bus in Italy to see her criminal father. Marinette should be in Paris, planing for the next time to meet with her pen pal and recalling everything at the dance.

   Life has its crazy ways of last-minute changes, she supposed.

   The bluenette felt the train jerked to a stop, the conductor talking through the speaker system of their whereabouts in a thick Italian accent Marinette couldn't understand. Yet, she urged Tikki out of the train. The teen checked her phone to get a better idea of where they are.

   "Marinette..."

   Marinette is about the lose her head, shooting a glare at the younger girl. Tikki shrunk under Marinette's angry gaze as if getting a scolding from her mother.

"Good grief! Now, what?" the bluenette snapped, annoyed. Tikki winced before quietly looking at the floor, deciding it is a bad idea to say anything more to set off Marinette. The bluebell-eyed female rubbed the side of her temple, feeling an oncoming splitting headache form.

"Probably from not getting any sleep," Marinette thought, tiredly studying the map on her device. They are getting closer, only a couple of miles away to reach their destination.

"Come on," Marinette said, grabbing her relative's wrist and dragging her along, "We're almost there but we're going to have to walk the rest of the way."

The redhead didn't argue, head still bowed and allowed Marinette to guide. Tikki just wanted to go home and play the sequel, Ultimate Dolly Supermodel Wars: Revenge of the Poser.

   Yet, she can't. She can't get back home without Marinette. Tikki is stuck here until they get to the surprise. She honestly has no clue what is even happening, anymore.

   Adventures are supposed to be fun, exciting, and thrilling. She would learn some lessons and explore new things. Yet, she is feeling the complete opposite of all of that. She's scared, on the verge of crying, and regretful. She's being dragged around like a ragged doll and yelled at.

   This adventure has not been fun.

   What's making it worse...her sixth sense is driving her up the wall. It grew worse with every step as if her sixth sense is a radar for an incoming event. She has a theory to wherever they are going is where the bad thing will take place.

   "We're here," Marinette said.

   Tikki looked up at the building then paled, immediately knowing what it is. Her body trembled, small hand tightly squeezing Marinette's wrist. Her stomach twisted, making it ache.

   The sixth sense is going haywire.

   She really wants to go home.

   "M-Marinette," Tikki stuttered, taking a few steps back and slowly shaking her head, "I don't want to go in there."

   Tikki's words are left unheard.

   The two walked to the front door and entered the prison.

{+}{+}{+}

Shan expected many things, rarely ever surprised by anything anymore. He goes through the same routine and has gone cold over the years. Shan used to dream of being a police officer when he was little. Now, it's his worst living nightmare.

He has to see that monster, he had once called a best friend, every day in his cell. The one who took his entire family away and broken it into pieces. He's seen bloodshed and misery surround him in many different ways. He's walked through the depths of the cruel flames and back again.

Nothing much surprised him anymore.

Yet, one knock on his office's door would change that.

"Come in," Shan said, rubbing the tiredness from his face and set aside an unsolved homicide case. The sheriff opened the door and walked in, followed by two young girls. Shan stared at the elder girl for a little too long, trying to figure out if he's seen her from somewhere.

   "I'm probably just tired or something," Shan thought, returning his attention to the head officer and stood up in respect.

   "Sir, is there a problem?" Shan asked, confused. The sheriff hummed in acknowledgment, "Officer Tsurugi, I think these two girls have some business with you."

   "Business?" Shan questioned, "What kind of business?"

   The sheriff went quiet for a moment, unsure of what or how to break the news. It may create a bad reaction from the officer. He finally decided it would be better to get straight to the point.

   "These two would like to see one of the prisoners," the sheriff began. Shan is still completely lost on why it involves any business with him. They have a visiting room for these kinds of things.

   The sheriff continued, quiet enough for only Shan to hear, "The older one claims that their father is Slade Cheng."

   Shan doesn't really get surprised anymore...but he's left speechless and shocked by the news. In the seven years Slade locked up, no one has actually visited and asked to see that monster. To Shan, it's mind-boggling.

   The only one that has recently talked to Slade is his "brother" through the phone. Yet, Shan soon discovered there was no brother. It was Hawkmoth Slade had been talking too. He was immediately banned from using the phones since then.

   "So...who are these two then?" Shan thought, eyeing the girls. The little redheaded girl stood shyly behind the elder bluenette, who has a blank look on her face.

   "I'll handle things from here, sir," Shan told the sheriff. The sheriff patted the officer's shoulder, telling him before leaving, "Take it easy on them."

   Once the door shut, Shan sat back down in his chair and gestured for the two girls to take a seat. The two females quietly sat down in the chairs in front of Shan's desk.

   "Who are you two?" Shan asked, glancing between the two young individuals. The redhead kept silent which is normal seeing the scared look on her face. Shan has sometimes seen kids come in completely terrified, thinking they did something wrong once they were being questioned.

Luckily, the teenager seems to be more cooperative.

"My name is Marinette," the bluenette answered before pointing over to the youngling, "and this is Tikki. We're here to see someone."

   Shan noticed the perplexed look on Tikki's face like she didn't understand what is happening. The man curiously returned his gaze to Marinette, carefully watching her for any signs of endangerment.

   "Yeah, you want to see Slade but what I don't understand is...why?" Shan quizzically asked, "Why are you here now and claiming to be his children?"

   "Wait, what?" Tikki finally spoke up in confusion, looking sharply at her cousin, "What is he talking about? Marinette, why are we here?"

   Marinette took a deep breath in before exhaling. There are even more questions and still very few answers. She didn't even know all of them herself. Why did she come here again? Is she really this desperate for answers?

   "It's hard to explain..." the bluenette admitted, trailing off and gathering her next words, "...but I recently found out my "parents" have been keeping a secret about me—us. I just...want to know the entire truth and I have a feeling, he might know."

   Shan didn't say anything, staring down the teen and thoughtfully pursed his lips. Tikki is completely lost, unable to process any information. The only thing she knows is she wants to leave and go home. She wants her mom, deeply missing her even though it's only been half a day.

   "What's your last name?" Shan continued, interrogating.

   "Dupain-Cheng," Marinette answered, nearly making Shan fall out of his chair. The officer is clearly stunned, realization sweeping upon the elder male. His body went cold. A pit dropped to the bottom of his stomach, eyes unyielding from the two girls.

   He knew that name all too well.

   Flashes of vivid memories appeared of a recently married couple. The woman sadly and lovingly held a little baby girl in her arms. Regret was displayed and lingering tears still rolled down her cheeks.

   "Marinette..." she quietly whimpered, sniffling, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

   All the pieces are coming together, forming a picture of why Marinette looks so familiar.

   "She looks just like Mei...," he thought, "...nearly identical...except those eyes. Those ghastly eyes, similar to that monster."

   Yet, it isn't the only thing that shocks him to his very core. Shan never thought he would ever meet Marinette. Never in a million years, Shan would have expected the teen to come here. He thought they all agreed to keep Slade a secret for Marinette's safety.

   It seems the secret was somehow spilled.

   Shan sighed, running his fingers through his dark locks. He could only do one thing at this very moment, cooperate and fulfill the bluenette's wishes.

   Shan stood from his chair and walked around his desk. Marinette and Tikki watched the man, confused about what he is doing.

   "I'll take you to him but I'll need to be there with you at all times," Shan said, "Do we have a deal?"

   "Deal!" Marinette didn't hesitate to agree, standing up before realizing something, "Sorry, I forgot to ask with everything but what's your name?"

   Shan felt himself genuinely smile a little and answered the teen.

   "My name is Shan Tsurugi. I'm your uncle."

{+}{+}{+}

   Thunder rumbled through the air.

   Dark clouds began to cover the sky.

   Rain softly sprinkled from the heavens, surely going to get heavier soon.

   Adrien stood outside of his old home. The building still looking as bleak as it ever did even when he used to live inside.

   There is no doubting the fear fueling his adrenaline, wanting every fiber of his muscles to turn around and run away. The only thing keeping him here now is his curiosity and optimism. He never liked this place. It was a prison, keeping him locked away like a person framed for a crime they never committed.

   He hates this place with a passion.

   But, this has to be done.

   There's still one mystery left unsolved and only he could solve it.

   "It's time dive in..." Adrien thought, determination circulating through his veins.

   "...dive into the deep end."

{+}{+}{+}